title: Involving patients in clinical research: the Telescot Patient Panel.
abstract: To date, patient involvement in the development of clinical research work has been limited. In 2011, the Telescot research team commenced work on a feasibility trial to investigate home telemonitoring of blood pressure for people who have experienced stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA). The team decided to involve patients in the development of the research.
  
  
  
  To improve research design through patient involvement.
  
  
  
  A modified form of the 'Scrutiny Panel' approach was used to involve people who had stroke in the research project.
  
  
  
  The Patient Panel supported the research in three key ways: it informed patient communication; it presented patient perspectives on the applicability and usability of the intervention; and it guided the development of the qualitative study.
  
  
  
  The initiative was considered a positive experience for all. However, challenges were identified in terms of the time and cost implications of undertaking patient involvement.
  
  
  
  Importance is attached to adequate project planning and development, partnership working with community-based organizations and the necessity for clear role delineation between patients and professionals to enable effective collaborative working.
  
  
  
  The Telescot Patient Panel was beneficial in supporting the development of the feasibility trial. The Panel approach was considered transferable to other clinical research contexts.
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fairbrother
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Lucy
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCloughan
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Geraldine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Adam
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brand
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Cecil
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cotter
authors.affiliation: Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Juliet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mackellaig
authors.affiliation: E-Health Research Group, Centre for Population Health Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: McKinstry
mesh_terms: D001294:Attitude to Health; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient; D010358:Patient Participation; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D012606:Scotland; D017216:Telemedicine
keywords: clinical trials; methodologies; patient involvement; primary care; stroke; telehealth